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Time does not exist. Time, the past, and future, are illusions that prevent us from seeing reality as it is. We need to understand the nature of the illusion, and perceive reality without the illusion.

Author Bio

The author became interested in the nature of time in Astronomy 101, back in 1,974.

Jim right understanding of time goes step ba step, i see that in 7 steps

yours amrit

1. Time is what we measure with clocks: with clocks we measure duration and numerical order of motion of massive objects and elementary particles in space.

There is no evidence that motion happen in time; we can only observe motion in space. With clocks we measure duration and numerical order of motion. Time still exist but not as a fundamental physical reality into which motion happens. Time exists as a scientific tool for description of motion in space.

2. To describe position of two objects A and B in space we need three coordinates X, Y and Z. To describe motion from object A to object B we need fourth coordinate that is time "t".

With clocks we describe motion. Let's take most simple equation:

distance = speed x time

Time here means duration of motion. When we know speed, we can also know distance that an object or particle has done in space.

3. Time as a "fourth" coordinate of space-time is a "coordinate of motion", it describes motion of massive bodies and particles in space.

In the Theory of Relativity the forth coordinate X4 = c x i x t is called the "time coordinate", whereas c is light speed, i is an imaginary number and t is the number representing duration of material change. With "time coordinate" one describes motion of objects in space. With clocks one measures interval between material change X and material change X + n, where n represents number of units of time. The smallest unit of time is Planck time; in a Planck time photon pass a Planck distance. Time is a measure of intervals of motion in space.

4. Space-time is a math model only; space-time does not exist as a physical reality.

With the model of space-time we describe motion of objects and particles into space. There is no evidence space-time existing as a physical reality. Before Einstein created space-time no one was thinking that space-time is an arena of the universe. Today most physicist think universe exists in space-time as a fundamental physical reality. For that conviction there is no evidence and no experimental proof.

5. Space itself is atemporal.

Motion of objects and particles do not happen in time, it happens in space only.Time is not running in space independent and also is not a part of so called space-time as a fundamental physical reality. Space is atemporal and time is by man invented coordinate of motion that describes motion in atemporal space.

6. Humans experience atemporal space as a present moment. Past and future exists only in the mind; physical past and future do not exist; exist only atemporal space.

All experiments in physics always run in present moment, because present moment is the only one that exists. We are not aware yet that present moments do not follow each other in the line past-present-future. Present moment is the only one in which motion happens. We experience this motion in a linear mind concept of past-present-future.

7. Time as a "coordinate of motion" is not elementary physical quantity as energy, matter, space and motion are; time exists only when we measure it.

Time is invented by man in order to describe motion in atemporal space. We have to distinguish between:

1. psychological time - the basic model of the mind in which we experience motion and life in general

2. physical time - where symbol t represents number of units of time as a coordinate of motion in atemporal space

The difference between these two times is still not totally clear. Main stream still consider time to be fundamental physical reality not being aware that they "project" their physiological time in physical reality. Universe is an atemporal phenomenon. We cannot think that universe run in time, because we do not have any evidence for that. Opposite is through: we experience atemporal universe in psychological time and we describe motion in atemporal space with physical time that is only a scientific tool and not fundamental physical reality.

Johnathon, I would agree with you that my essay is a strong "assertion" that time doesn`t exist. It`s not a new idea that time doesn`t exist, many people believe time is an illusion. I`m not trying to provide a proof in my essay. A kind of proof is available in the fact that we are engaged in an essay contest about the nature of time, in two thousand and nine. This strongly suggests that no one has ever found a shred of evidence that time exists.

I`m not sure I can agree with you about the essay rambling. After all, it`s only one long page, explaining a rather big question in Physics.

As for finding it incoherent. It`s a difficult subject.

I came across this essay contest only in November. I tried to take some advantage of my shortage of time, and wrote the essay in a summarized fashion that trys to tell the story in a clear distilled manner, devoid of unnecessary confusions.

Johnathon, if I might quote from your post, "and that it is better to think of the world without time." I hope I asserted myself more vigorously than that, on this important point! I stated a couple of times that we need to perceive reality for what it is. I asserted that we are blinding ourselves to reality, and so missing out on understanding obvious things, such as time travel. I made reference to removing the time variable from equations where it ought not to be!

I don`t think it`s better to think of the world without time, I think it`s imperative, that we begin to think of the world without time.

It would have been easier to understand the structure of the solar system, after people understood that the world wasn`t flat, rather than before, eh?

The same is true with time! It`s easier to understand Physics, and the world in general, once you know yourself, that time doesn`t exist!

Narendra Nath wrote on Jan. 2, 2009 @ 13:17 GMT

Dear Jim & Amrit,

As you agree with Carlo to forget Time completely, how about the life being lived by humans without the Money, paper or coins. It was just Barter trade or fighting to snatch things by force. Might is right.

Sometimes i feel timelessness helps make your experiences eternal. But still wewho are born , are destined to die. Thus time is merely a parameter that helps us organize our living during our life. In order to enjoy totally, it is wise to forget time. therwise you are likely to curtail your enjoyment. In some posts here i found some of mentioning ' i must hurry i am late for....' we are always trying to be on the move, and there is no time to stand & stare!

As the essay posting time is over, but postings are still going on, i thought of puting this up on a lighter vein!

Ken Sandhu wrote on Jan. 7, 2009 @ 18:58 GMT

I find your explanation of "time" very interesting and at the same time true. You have tried to explain a complex physics riddle in a layman's jargon and by giving a philosophical touch to it. I have gone through some of other essays as well, but my comments are - they are either too technical or pure non-understandable explanation.

You have done a good job !

Narendra Nath wrote on Jan. 8, 2009 @ 13:14 GMT

Dear Ken,

Thanks for the appreciation. If i can lighten the 'burden' of life we all carry in our own ways, what more one may desire out of this short span of life in the context of teh age of the Universe!

Narendra wrote on Jan. 8, 2009 @ 13:16 GMT

Dear Jim Snowden,

Your post on my essay has been responded there, may be that you see it at leisure.

Jack King wrote on Jan. 14, 2009 @ 21:10 GMT

Consider for a moment a universe consisting of one indivisible particle; then ask ourself some questions: How big is it? One cannot say how big it is because there is nothing to judge it by. Which way is it going? One cannot say because there are no compass points and nothing upon which to hang a 3D coordinate system. Is it possible that it's moving? No, because anyplace it could move to could not be shown to be any different than where it supposedly was before it supposedly moved. Time is an abstract concept for measuring the motion of one thing in terms of another. If the other does not exist, and the particle cannot be shown to be moving, then time cannot have meaning. The earth revolves on its axis 364 1/4 times while it orbits the sun once. Hence the basis for days and years, and we can calibrate pendulums or quartz crystals or cesium atoms to vibrate in some direct relationship to days or years and divide those days and years up into hours or seconds or multiply them to denote decades or millenia or whatever. Time, while not possessing any substance that one can put in a bottle or hold in a hand is nevertheless a useful abstraction. It does not exist in the material sense, but then neither does space, beauty, justice, freedom, nor any other metaphysical concept.

anthony wrote on Jun. 11, 2010 @ 01:18 GMT

i truly strugle to concieve time as nothing more than a measurement. time is not a force nor a phyiscal law.

Jim George Snowdon replied on Aug. 27, 2010 @ 11:44 GMT

Hi Anthony,

The struggle to which you refer, is a barrier to every individual.

My own struggle began 35 years ago, when the professor asked us to write a definition of time. He then revoked the assignment, saying we would all give him different answers.

I recall standing motionless, while the large first year class listened to the assignment, and then it`s cancellation. The nature of time had never crossed my mind before, I had assumed it was clearly understood!

It became a passion for me, and over the following three decades, I didn`t see any serious questioning of the nature of time in the main stream media.

In this past decade, three major magazines have dedicated issues to the subject. Now, FQXi has seriously and openly challenged the question of the nature of time. I think they are going to succeed in communicating the answer to all.

Even so, each individual will still have the struggle of disassembling their own barrier.

Jim George Snowdon wrote on Jun. 13, 2010 @ 05:13 GMT

Hi Anthony,

Time is a measurement system that actually measures duration elapsing. It`s measurement baseline is the duration that elapses while the planet rotates.

I recently wrote a post in the second essay contest, which I think, also pertains to the subject of your post. If you wish to read it, the post is entry dated May 10th, 2,010. The essay, to which thread the post is attached, is entitled, "Awakening of the Observer in Physics", by Amrit Srecko Sorli, entry dated July 17th, 2,009.

tanxianjue wrote on Jul. 13, 2010 @ 03:58 GMT

organic life create the concept "time" to measure the complicated Universe.

time is static, universe is dynamic-by itself, universe does not need time to push it to be dynamic.

Let's go back to the "time" when organic life has not evolved out on earth ,let us assume that there exist a "god",this god know,and is cnotroling everything in the universe-maybe this god is universe itself, the concept of "time" does not exist in this god's view, everything in the universe is just "existing and changing" at "right now",there is no yesterday nor tomorrow, there is just existing ,changing and evolution, life evolves from few intelligence single cell organic life into intelligent lives ,such as fish,bird,dog, monkey, ape, gorilla, and till human being. The concept of "time" is created and existed for all organic lives in the whole universe,of course including earth ,and this rule also applicable for any other lives in the universe, if there exist lives on some other planets.

life,even intelligent life, such as human being, is not so capable to understand the whole universe--at least till now, we human being is still not understanding much rule in the universe.the concept of time is just created by lives to apply in their complicated enviroment.

in god's view ,there does not exist the concept of tens of millions of "years" ago dinosaur time, nor nowaday human being time,there just exist the concept of right now.

in my view :time is static-that is to say time does no exist,universe is dynamic-by universe itself.the whole universe does not need time to push it to be dynamic,time is just a measure tool for "stupid" organic lives(because these lives are not as capable as "god")to describe the complicated relationship among things

in the whole universe, so,time does not really exist

tan xianjue wrote on Jul. 14, 2010 @ 03:32 GMT

How can the universe be dynamic just by itself,without time to push it.

first, time is a created concept, through enviromental experience by self-conscious organic life:such as fish, dog, monkey,human, I think even virus or single cell life has some kind of "time" in their sense to understand the

universe. time is just an artificial standard created and used in a piece of limited universe enviroment for its creater's convenience, just as "meter","kilogram"......

second, the universe is so big ,huge, complicated, so that it is really hard to understand. created life in the universe, such as animal on earth, their brain, intelligence, may not be capable to understand,hold, and control

the whole rules in the universe, these lives have to use some artificial standard to measure their limited enviroment for their living ,one of the most important standard is time for we human beings. I think for a child, it would not know the concept of time unless adult tell the child , there just exist many mysterious things in the world for a child.the world, the universe, is always existing , and changing. We can assume that the basic rule of the universe is changing, changing and changing;moving ,moving and movingexisting ,existing and existing.if this assume is right(we can not demonstrate this rule to be right or wrong at least under nowaday science and

technology), then the universe does not need time to push it to be dynamic,time is just an artificial standard under this assume.

Jim George Snowdon replied on Nov. 28, 2010 @ 00:28 GMT

Hi Tan,

I agree with what you`ve said. We have motion in our timeless universe.

To quote from your post, "time is a created concept, through environmental experience by self-conscious organic life", I would add, that the environmental experience is greatly affected by our planet`s rotational motion.

If a planet`s rotational period was the same as it`s revolutional period, similiar to the relationship between the Earth and Moon, it might be that the conscious inhabitants of that planet, would believe they were experiencing duration elapsing, as opposed to time passing.

If it was always 2 p.m. in one`s town, it would be easier to appreciate that it`s actually a case of duration elapsing.

vGare replied on Jan. 6, 2011 @ 10:19 GMT

What's the difference between duration and time?

Are you not perhaps putting but another label on the same unknown.

Jim George Snowdon wrote on Jan. 23, 2011 @ 03:34 GMT

Hi vGare,

Duration elapsing, is an accurate description of reality. Time passing, is a description of the illusion people normally hold of reality.

minixar wrote on Mar. 1, 2011 @ 08:45 GMT

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Both matter and energy are real, but just matter "exists". Energy just "happens", what is quite different.

As long as we know, the cosmos is filled with matter in motion.

"Time" just means that there happens motion. Exactly, it means that every particle or corpses occupies "now" a different spatial position than "before" or "after", related to a reference point (so, Einstein's relativeness is quite right).

I use to think that "time" is just the other face of the energy coin, because without energy, no time occours. It is like a 'side effect' of motion/energy.

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